The Orange Region’s Ross Hill Wines has recently released a suite of new vintage Pinnacle Series wines, made by winemaker Chris Jessop.
Chris Jessop has been making wine at Ross Hill for the past two years, having previously made wine at Logan Wines (Mudgee), Grant Burge (Barossa), and Cape Jaffa (Limestone Coast). Chris has also worked vintages in Germany including at Dr Loosen and in his homeland, New Zealand.
The new wines comprise 2025 Ross Hill ‘Pinnacle Series’ Sauvignon Blanc ($35), 2025 Pinot Gris ($35), 2025 Chardonnay ($40), 2024 Shiraz ($50), 2024 Cabernet Franc ($50) and 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon ($50).
The 2024 vintage was near perfect in the region, with the two previous vintages being quite wet, ensuring great soil moisture in the lead up to a warm and dry season. The 2025 vintage was similarly favourable, allowing fruit to achieve excellent balance and concentration.
The release of these wines under Chris Jessop also marks Ross Hill’s ten-year anniversary of being certified Carbon Neutral. “The initial achievement of gaining carbon neutral certification involved a great deal of innovation and effort, but now it is simply how we operate,” says co-owner and vigneron James Robson. “We continue to innovate in the winery and vineyard; constantly challenging ourselves to lessen our footprint on the land.”
The new wines are a product of this philosophy. “We are using less intervention in our winemaking practices,” says winemaker Chris Jessop. “Throughout all the wines in the Pinnacle Series we are using a more supportive oak regime, allowing the pristine, Orange Region fruit to step forward. Less new oak, a lighter toast, wild yeast fermentation and a gentler, considered hand has let ‘our place’ be the hero, with fruit purity and texture key drivers in the winemaking decisions.”
The majority of the grapes for the new Pinnacle Series wines come from Ross Hill’s 13-hectare Griffin Road Vineyard. Planted over 20 years ago, the vineyard is well suited to these varieties, with an elevation spanning 750 to 810 metres. “The elevation, aspect and soil of our Griffin Road vineyard reliably grow some of the region’s best grapes,” continues Chris. “When many Orange vineyards are marginal with their Cabernet and Cabernet Franc, Griffin Road physiologically ripens these varieties consistently. They are an absolute pleasure to bring into the winery.”
Pricing & distribution: The Ross Hill range of wines is distributed nationally via Domaine Wine Shippers. Direct sales and the ‘1994’ Wine Club operate via their cellar door and through rosshillwines.com.au
2025 Ross Hill ‘Pinnacle Series’ Sauvignon Blanc $35
Vineyard: Griffin Road | Alc: 13.0% | pH: 3.14 | TA: 6.8g/L
2025 Ross Hill ‘Pinnacle Series’ Pinot Gris $35
Vineyard: Wallace Lane | Alc: 13.0% | pH: 3.07 | TA: 5.6g/L
2025 Ross Hill ‘Pinnacle Series’ Chardonnay $40
Vineyard: Griffin Road | Alc: 12.8% | pH: 3.40 | TA: 6.0g/L
2024 Ross Hill ‘Pinnacle Series’ Shiraz $50
Vineyard: Griffin Road | Alc: 13.3% | pH: 3.49 | TA: 6.4g/L
2024 Ross Hill ‘Pinnacle Series’ Cabernet Franc $50
Vineyard: Griffin Road | Alc: 13.6% | pH: 3.37 | TA: 6.4g/L
2024 Ross Hill ‘Pinnacle Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon $50
Vineyard: Griffin Road | Alc: 13.5% | pH: 3.38 | TA: 7.1g/L
